The ancestors of the Watis family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the Germanic personal nameWalter. The name is composed of the elements wald, meaning rule and heri, meaning army.

Early Origins of the Watis family

The surname Watis was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat from early times as Lords of the manor or Crowhurst. Hubert Walter (c.1160-1205) was Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor. Weeton in Lancashire was an early home of the family. "This place, in Domesday Book called Widetun, was early in the family of Walter." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. "The church [of Woolvercott in Lancashire], situated on the bank of the Isis, has a sepulchral chapel on the north side, containing a stately monument to the family of Walter, of whom David Walter was High Sheriff of the county, and commanded a regiment of horse under Charles I. in the parliamentary war." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. About the same time, Greenalgh with Thistleton, again in Lancashire was home to another branch of the family. It was here that the manor of Greenalgh-cum-Thistleton was held in the reign of Charles I. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Early History of the Watis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Watis research.Another 287 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1847, 1611, 1678, 1566, 1630, 1604, 1675, 1628, 1629 and are included under the topic Early Watis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watis Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Walter, Walters, Watter, Watters, Walthew, Wattis and others.

Early Notables of the Watis family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Walter (1611-1678?), a Welsh Anglican priest who became a Puritan; Sir John Walter (1566-1630), an English judge and Member... Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Watis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Watis family to Ireland

Some of the Watis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Watis family to the New World and Oceana

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Watis or a variant listed above: William Walters, a fisherman, settled in Trinity, Newfoundland, in 1757; Henry Walters was a gun-maker of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1806; Casper Walter from England settled in New York in 1709 with his wife and nine children.